Try one of these 2008-2009 Soaring Eagle Nominees:
Atherton: The House of Power by Patrick Carman Edgar, an eleven-year-old orphan, finds a book that reveals significant secrets about Atherton, the strictly divided world on which he lives, even as geological changes threaten to shift the power structure that allows an elite few to live off the labor of others.

Deadline by Chris Crutcher (**Graphic Content**) 
Given the medical diagnosis of one year to live, high school senior Ben Wolf decides to fulfill his greatest fantasies, ponders his life's purpose and legacy, and converses through dreams with a spiritual guide known as "Hey-Soos."

Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)
When the Grace children go to stay at their Great Aunt Lucinda's worn Victorian house, they discover a field guide to fairies and other creatures and begin to have some unusual experiences.

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan (The Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 2)
Will is forced to overcome his fear of Wargals, the foot soldiers of rebel warlord Morgarath, as Araluen's army prepares to battle Morgarath's forces.

Perfect by Natasha Friend
Following the death of her father, a thirteen-year-old uses bulimia as a way to avoid her mother's and ten-year-old sister's grief, as well as her own.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins (**Graphic Content**) 
Kristina Snow is the perfect daughter, but she meets a boy who introduces her to drugs and becomes a very different person, struggling to control her life and her mind.

Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz (An Alex Rider Adventure, Book 7)
While working with the Australian Secret Service on a dangerous mission, teenaged spy Alex Rider uncovers information about his parents.

Epic by Conar Kostick
On New Earth, a world based on a video role-playing game, fourteen-year-old Erik pursuades his friends to aid him in some unusual gambits in order to save Erik's father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.

School’s Out --Forever by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 2)
After a short stay with an FBI agent who gives them a chance to attend school and live a normal life, the six genetically-altered, winged youths head toward Florida and Max's ultimate destiny--to save the world, whether she wants to or not.

Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
When the goddess Artemis disappears while hunting a rare, ancient monster, a group of her followers joins Percy and his friends in an attempt to find and rescue her before the winter solstice, when her influence is needed to sway the Olympian Council regarding the war with the Titans.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (Year 6)
Sixth-year Hogwarts student Harry Potter gains valuable insights into the boy Voldemort once was, even as his own world is transformed by maturing friendships, schoolwork assistance from an unexpected source, and devastating losses.

Demon Thief by Darren Shan (**Graphic Content**)  (The Demonata, Book 1)
With the opening of a window into a demon world, a boy discovers his powers as a Disciple and his mission to hunt the viciously powerful Demonata to the death.

The Peak by Roland Smith
A fourteen-year-old boy attempts to be the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest.

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
When his younger brother is diagnosed with leukemia, thirteen-year-old Steven tries to deal with his complicated emotions, his school life, and his desire to support his family.

Specials by Scott Westerfeld (The Uglies Series, Book 3)
Tally has been transformed from repellent ugly to supermodel pretty. Now shes a super-amped fighting machine. Her mission is to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid, but Tallys never been good at playing by the rules.

Need more ideas for great books? Try these 2007-2008 Soaring Eagle Nominees.